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JFK 100: Ted Reinstein Commentary

"John Kennedy asked us - challenged us - as Americans, as the world's most privileged, to think outside of ourselves. To engage and participate and get involved in our Democracy, and in the wider world."

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Updated: 7:45 PM EDT May 26, 2017

JFK 100: Ted Reinstein Commentary

"John Kennedy asked us - challenged us - as Americans, as the world's most privileged, to think outside of ourselves. To engage and participate and get involved in our Democracy, and in the wider world."

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Updated: 7:45 PM EDT May 26, 2017

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WEBVTT ANTHONY: MAY YOU LIVE ININTERESTING TIMES, THE SAYINGGOES, AND WE DO.>> SHEDDING NEW LIGHT ONPRESIDENT KENNEDY'S LEGACY.TED: CONSIDER THE TWO MAINPRIORITIES HE SAID EARLY ON, ACALL FOR SERVICE AT HOME ATAMERICAN LEADERSHIP ABROAD.IN AMERICA 2017, NEITHER CALL ISMADE.IT IS EASY TO SAY TIMES HAVECHANGED AND MYTHOLOGIZED LEADERSOF THE PAST.JOHN KENNEDY WAS NOT PERFECT ANDTHE PRESIDENT STARTING WITHGEORGE WASHINGTON HAS BEEN BUTJOHN F. KENNEDY WAS UNIQUE ANDCALLING FOR SOMETHING ONLY AHANDFUL OF MODERN PRESIDENTS HADEVEN FAINTLY ECHOED.ON THIS OCCASION IT IS WORTHRECALLING WHAT IT WAS.JOHN KENNEDY ASKED US,CHALLENGED US AS AMERICANS, ASTHE WORLD'S MOST PRIVILEGED TOTHINK OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES, TOENGAGE AND GE INVOLVED IN OURDEMOCRACY AND THE WIDER WORLD.NOT TO JUST COMPLAIN OR WRITE ACHECK OR TWO RALLY VOTE.MUCH LESS TO READ TAG OR REPOST.TO GET OFF OUR BUTTS AND GET OUTTHERE AND DO SOMETHING FOR THENATION AND WORLD.TODAY THAT MESSAGE SEEMS A MUSTAS HOKEY AS IT DOES IMPROBABLE.WE ARE MORE CYNICAL AND DIVIDEDAND OPTIMISTIC. YOU ARE THINKINGSOCIAL MEDIA DID NOT EXIST THEN.AMERICANS DID.KENNEDY'S MESSAGE DID NOT SEEMHOKEY TO THEM THEN.SOMETHING'S DO NOT CHANGE.HOWEVER CYNICAL, WE ARE STILLHUMAN.WE STILL WANT TO FEEL INSPIREDAND BE CALL TO GREATNESS CAPS ONTO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER.WE WANT TO BELIEVE IN THETRANSFORMING PROMISE OF OURDEMOCRACY AND WE WANT TO BELIEVETHAT AMERICA IS AND SHOULD BETHE LIGHT TO THE WORLD AND ALEADER FOR ALL THOSE WHO SEEKFREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICEAT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD.TODAY, THE EXTENT TO WHICH WEARE NEITHER INSPIRED BY THATCALLED TO THAT -- OR CALLED TOTHAT OR EXPECT TO BE IS THEEXTENT TO WHICH I CAN FOR ONEAMERICAN, MISSED THE MESSAGE ANDTHE LEADERSHIP OF JOHN F.KENNEDY.ANTHONY: THE LEGACY EMBRACEDHERE.THE EXHIBIT IS WONDERFUL.SEE IT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE.

JFK 100: Ted Reinstein Commentary

"John Kennedy asked us - challenged us - as Americans, as the world's most privileged, to think outside of ourselves. To engage and participate and get involved in our Democracy, and in the wider world."

It is fitting that the young boy who loved to frolic in the ocean would be remembered at the water’s edge on Columbia Point. The JFK Library and Museum overlooks the city that launched John F Kennedy’s life in politics and gave the nation its 35th president. To mark his centennial, the museum has mounted a new exhibit…JFK at 100: Milestones and Mementos.